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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

F. P. GOBHAM.- EXTENSION TABLB.

No. 464,115. j Patented 1390.1, v1891.

@CCL 6 J T52-J 6 e 2 sheets-sheet (No Model.)

F. P. COBHAM. EXTENSION TABLE.

Patented Deo. 1

' UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.v

FREDERICK P. CBHAM, OF VARREN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ,ONE- HALF 'PO FRED. MORCK AND AUGUST C. MORCK, J R., OF SAME PLACE.

EXTENSION-TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 464,115, dated December 1, 1891.

Application filed March 14, 1891.

and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the.

art to which it appertains to make and use the same. p

My invention is an improvement in extension-tables; and it consists in the novel fea? tures of construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described.

In the accompanying drawings I have illus trated one form in which I have contemplated embodying my invention, and the same is fully disclosed in the following description and claims.

Referring to the said drawings, Figure l is a bottom plan View of my improved extension-table. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of part of the mechanism. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are details of parts of the mechanism. Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are enlarged detail views of parts of the construction.

In the drawings, A represents the central leg of the table, and a is a central transverse bar supported thereby. To this bar a is secured the tabletop B. The sides C C of the table are formed of metal, and are preferably in the form shown in Fig. 4, having a vertical Wall c and two inwardly-turned iianges c c. One of these flanges is secured to the under side of the table-top in any desired manner, and the lower flange serves as a guide fort-he folding extension-frames, which will be p'resently'described.

The metal sides C C will be preferably made of steel or galvanized iron, and the flanges c c will assist in giving them the requisite rigidity, so that quite thin metal can be employed. The metal forming the sides is also covered with veneer or painted to give it the appearance of wood. l

At each side of the central cross-bar a is a sliding extensionlframe formed of the side lpieces d d and cross-bars d d2 d3, the bars d3 Serial No. 385,070. (No model.)

forming the ends of the table when-the extension-frames are pushed in. The side pieces d d of these frames engage and slide in the metallic sides C C of the table, and the said frames are further guided in their movements 5 5 by the longitudinally-extending guides E E, secured to the central cross-bars cl d3 of the sliding frames. The said cross-bars d d2 are provided with retainingstrips e e, which hold the guidesE E in engagement with the frames. 6o I provide a stop or stopsto limit the outward movement of the sliding frames, and I have shown the guides E provided at or near their ends with pins or lugs e e', which are adapted to engage the retaining-strips e e and stop the frames. The frames are provided with longitudinally-extending strips d4, having side strips d5 d5 on either side to engage the guides E and assist in guiding the sliding frame in its movements. Each of the sliding frames 7o is provided with a supplemental supportingleg A and a supplemental leaf D, which is capable of vertical movement. To this end the leaf D is provided with a number of slotted t plates d, securedthereto in any desired manner, and preferably adjacent to the corners of the leaf. These lslotted portions of the plates extend downward from the leaf and are secured to stationary portions of the frame by means of bolts passing through said slots. 8o These slotted plates and securing-bolts form guides to insure the leaf being raised in an even and regular manner. The leaf D, when it lies upon its supporting-frame, is in a plane slightlybelow the lower face of the table-top, so that when the leaf is down and the frame pushed in the leaf D lies -beneath the top of the table.

The leaf D is raised in this instance by means of pivoted lifting-levers F F, which are 9o secured to rigid portions of the frame and have their lower ends connected by a rigid bar F to secure a simultaneous movement of all of said levers. The upper ends of the levers F engage the under side of the leaf at different points along its surface, and when said levers are moved on their pivots in the required direction the leaf will be raised evenly into the plane of the table-top, the slotted plates guiding said leaf and limiting roo its upward movement, so that it cannot be raised higher than the table-top. These levers canbe operated by hand, butI prefer to operate them automatically by the drawing out of the frame, so that when the frame vreaches its most outward position the leaf will be raised into position. In the drawings I have shown cach A spring-catch g is secured to the frame in positionto engage the sliding bar when the leaf-engaging end of the lever F is depressed and the leaf is down, thus holding the parts 1n that position until released. When the catch is operated to release the sliding bar f2, the springs f will operate the levers and raise the leaf. In order to cause the springcatch to be released automatically, I provide the frame with a trip-rod II, (see Figs. 1, 2, and 3,) which loosely engages guide-staples in the frame, and has a bent portion h turned into a positionto engage and release the springcatch when the trip-rod is moved inward with respect to the frame. The other end of the trip-rod loosely engages a staple h on the central cross-bar of the main table-frame, and said trip-rod is provided with a head or shoulder h2, adapted to engage the said staple 77, Just before the frame has reached the limit ot 1 ts outward movement and stop said rod, which normally moves with the frame. This causes the bent portion h of the trip to engage and release the catch, and thus permit the springs to raise the leaf into position.

If desired, I may connect the trip-rod I-I directly wlth one of the levers F and dispense Witn the springs f and retaining devices, thus enabling the trip-rod, when its shoulder or head strikes against the staple h', to drawY positively -on the lever itself and raise the leaf without the use of the operating-springs before described.

rlhe sliding frames may be drawn out by hand or 1n some other manner, as desired or found most convenient. I have shown an arrangement for forcing said slidingframe outwardly by means of compressionsprings, which are released by devices located adjacent to the edge of the table, within easy reach of the operator. In carrying this feature of my invention into effect I provide the central cross-bar a with two or more guide-rods K K, which extend through suitable openings in the cross-pieces d d2 of the respective frames. Around these bars are placed the compression-springs L, which preferably pass through an enlarged opening in the crosspiece d of the frames and engage the crosspiece d2 111 order to allow a longer spring to be used. The central leg or central cross-bar a is provided with a spring-catch or locking device on either side to engage a suitable portion of the sliding frame and lock it when it has been forced inward against the pressure of the springs, thereby compressing the latter.

A knob or releasing device M is located at each side of the table for each frame and connected for operation with one of said locking devices for releasing the same, so that either of said frames can be released from either side of the table. In the drawings I have shown each of the knobs M connected by a Wire or rod m with a`bell-crank lever m', pvoted to some stationary part of the central cross-bar a and having one end in position to engage one of the locking devices for releasing the same.

It will be seen that the main support for the table-top B is the central leg, and in order to prevent the outer ends of said leaf from sagging downward upon the leaf and scratching the saine as the frame is pushed out I provide the under side of said table-top with a series of rollers X, having surfaces of rubber, felt, or other flexible material, when the latter is closed in, to prevent sagging and to hold said top out of contact with the leaf as the leaf is forced out beneath' it, thus preventing the leaf from becoming marred or scratched. Each frame is also provided at its inner end, and preferably adjacent lto its sides,with inwardly-extending braces or strips N N, as shown in the drawings. These braces or strips slide along in engagement with the top of the table, and when the frame is in its most outward position they serve the double purpose of preventing the outer edge ofv the table-top B from sagging, and also, by extending inward on the side of the supplemental leg A opposite to that of the main portion of the frame, they prevent the frame and leaf from tilting downward at its outer end, which might otherwise result. i

The operation of my improved table will be IOO apparent from the foregoing description.

When it is desired to extend the table at one -or both ends, the operator reaches beneath the table and operates one or both of the knobs which are located there. This releases the locking devices of the frames, and the springs expand and force the frames outward until they are arrested by the pins e e coming into contact with the retaining-stripse e. The guides E and strips d* d5 d5 will serve to guide the frames in their movements. Just before the frames reach their most outwardv difference being the thickness of the metal, and this can be avoided by making the side wall curved, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 4. By this means, when the leaf is thrown up to form a continuation of the table, it will be of the same width as the table-top, thus presenting a neat and uniform appearance, which wouldV not be obtained if wood side pieces were employed.

Vhen it is not desired to use the extensionframes, the lifting-levers are retracted by hand until the cross-rod is caught and held by its locking device, and the leaf is then in itslowest position. The frame is then pushed inward against the force of its springs until it is engaged by its locking device, when it will be securely held until released by the lock-releasing devices located adjacent to the edges of thevtable, as before described.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In an extension-table, the combination, with the fixed table-top provided with metallic side portions forming guides, of sliding extension-fram es engaging said metallic sides, carrying supplemental leaves movable vertically with respect to said frames, said frames and leaves being of substantially the same width as the table-top and adapted to lie beneath the same when not in use, and lifting devices for lifting said leaves into the plane of and iush with the fixed table-top when the frames are drawn out, substantially as described.

2. In an extension-table, the combination, with the fixed table-top and support-s for the same, of the sliding extension-frames carrying supplemental leaves having a vertical movement with respect to said frames, adapted to lie beneath the table-top when not in use, and means for drawing out said leaves in the plane which they occupy beneath the table, and means for raising said leaves into the plane of the fixed table-top after they reach the limit of theirV outward movement, substantially as described.

8. 'In an extension-table, the combinatiom,

ing extension-frames provided with supplemental leaves, the lifting-levers, and the triprods adapted to control the operation of said levers when the extension-frames are drawn out, substantially as described.

6. In an extension-table, the combination, with the table-top and supports, of the sliding extension-frames provided with supplemental leaves, the spring-actuated liftinglevers, the locking devices therefor, and the trip-rods for releasing said locking devices, substantially as described.

7. In an extension-table, the combination, with the table-top and supports, of the sliding extension-frames carrying supplemental leaves having a vertical movement with respect to said frames, adapted to lie beneath said top when not in use, and the springactuated lifting-levers for raising said leaves when the frames are drawn out, substantially as described. Y

8. In an extension-table, the combination, With the table-top and supports, of the sliding extension-frames provided with movable leaves,the liftin g-levers for said leaves,sprin gs for forcing out said frames, locking devicesv said frames, and the trip-rods for controlling the operation of the lifting-levers automatically when the frames are forced out by said springs, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK P. com-IAM.

Witnesses:

L. P. WHITAKER, J. D. KINGsBERY.

. for said frames adapted to secure and release 

